Most social communication tests used to measure change in young children with autism spectrum disorder have not undergone rigorous psychometric evaluation. Notably, and most relevant to the early intervention literature, there is little information on the sensitivity of these measures to change over time, despite their frequent use. Further, most…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover Direct Support Professionals' (DSPs) perceptions of a staff development session for creating a literacy-based social skills strategy known as social stories or story-based instruction. The participants in this study were six DSPs employed by a non-profit agency in the…

Many educators struggle to deal with challenging behavior from students diagnosed with one or more emotional disorders, often including oppositional defiant disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit disorder. Any combination of these disabilities can make learning challenging for the students and make classroom management even more…

Autistic children and adolescents and their parents are likely to have been disproportionally affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been little focus on how the mental health of these vulnerable families developed during the pandemic and how it compared to those with other special educational needs and disabilities. Questionnaires were…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive developmental disorder that has grown in prevalence over the past few decades and has a tremendous impact on families that struggle with adjustment to this disorder. Initial exposure to such a disorder may be a significant source of stress and tribulation for Chinese families who are not familiar with…

The challenging behaviours of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been widely described as one of the most significant sources of stress for teachers. However, less attention has been paid to the potential of teachers' perspectives as a source of knowledge to improve their practice. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers'…

Purpose: This study aims to illustrate how environmental systems shape the peer interactions of an autistic student within the classroom. Method: Drawing on the bioecological model of human development, this situated discourse analysis used thematic coding and microanalysis to examine data from semistructured interviews and 10 sessions of direct…

Children with intellectual disability and autism often receive support which is organised with interprofessional collaboration in early childhood education and care (ECEC). In Finland, a new ECEC curriculum was launched in 2022. The core curriculum and renewed legislation on ECEC emphasise collaboration between professionals and parents. In this…

The use of mobile applications (apps) is popular among parents and teachers due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation, and the number of apps with the specific aim to increase eye contact for children with autism is growing rapidly. However, research is limited to assess the efficiency of the majority of the apps available for…

The number of students with ASD entering higher education is increasing. Ensuring that appropriate support structures are in place is imperative for their academic, social, and personal success. However, research on students with ASD often does not include student perspectives. Mismanagement of students' transition into higher education…

Background and Purpose: The unprecedented shift to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic intensified educational inequities for students with disabilities, a historically marginalized population in terms of access to quality instruction. Caregivers assumed an integral role in access to education during distance learning, making it…

There is growing research aimed at translating parent-mediated interventions into Part C Early Intervention systems to examine the effectiveness and reach of these models. Although research to date suggests that Early Intervention providers deliver parent-mediated intervention near fidelity, current fidelity reporting practices make delivery…

The increase in enrollment in online programs for Grades K-12 students, including students with disabilities, requires teachers to consider how to provide effective online instruction. Although schools may offer students a fully online curriculum, teachers serve an essential role in supporting students with disabilities in meeting (a) learning…

The purpose of this case study was to understand the perspectives and experiences of general education teachers who teach high school students with autism spectrum disorder in inclusive education with respect to challenges teachers face, strategies and interventions they use to manage the classroom, and relationships they build to create an…

The least restrictive environment (LRE) is the educational placement determined necessary for obtaining maximum educational benefits. The individualized education program (IEP) team determines the LRE after analyzing the student's academic and behavioral data and assessing the student's unique needs. Specific special educational labels may produce…